Hey guys, time for my weekly advice seeking.

What size drogue would be apropriate for my clansman. I'm looking at setting up my vessel for some deep ocean sailing.

The two products I was looking at were...
-GP24L seabrake drogue
-GP30L seabrake drogue

I have no experience with these at all so I would appreciate any guidence on the topic (ie.prices, brands, conditions to use in).

I've also been looking at pricing for storm jibs, do you guys have preferences or know of cheap sail makers?

If I was going to have a drogue then it would be a Jordan. I even considered sewing one up myself but a kit would be the best way to go. I decided I would avoid sailing in conditions where I would need one. They do take up a considerable space when stowed in a position where they can be accessed easily.

I made my own storm jib. I have a headsail furler and I have a setup with large plastic "beads" that go over the furled headsail and is hauled via the second headsail halyard. I have never tried it in anger and have little confidence in it. I can also fly it as a staysail [unstayed]. In moderate breezes its fine. In reality I would probably go down to a third reef and a tiny bit of headsail unfurled, then down to just the main. If that was too much then it would be no main and either close reach with just the sail cover [sails well like this] or bear off down wind under bare poles and drag a warp. Except when securing the main in the sail cover I would avoid leaving the cockpit!

It all depends on your boat and you will have to find out what works for you. If you have sea room there is not a real problem.

If you want a cheap headsail chase up a Dacron 16 foot skiff jib. I had one for fresh days on my quarter tonner. I pulled the wire luff and replaced it with Spectra and added a strop on the bottom[tack] so it was higher off the deck. I added a couple of layers of Dacron over the luff as well and set on the headstay with plastic sail hanks it was brilliant.

Can you recomend a make of storm jib that's good value poods?

and Ramona stop making things, you're making me seem inept.

My new storm jib still in bag 5 years old.....done Adelaide to tassie. East coast to lizard island (cooktown) ...most storms 35 to 45 knots at this stage I'm looking for somewhere to hide not to set sails. Now my stormy rides in the boot of my car!

Ramona said..

Jessica seems to have her storm sail on the foredeck for ready use as a staysail.

I think that is the best way to use a storm jib, ie bringing it back inboard instead of having it way out on the bow.

Various ways of setting it up depending on the configuration of your rig.

In the first pic she seems to be doing quite well on her mostly furled head sail. It must have been set up for that with luff padding.

"I think that is the best way to use a storm jib, ie bringing it back inboard instead of having it way out on the bow"

As Cisco suggests, having the inner forestay attaching to the deck further aft rather than up near the bow is an advantage when flying the storm jib because centre of effort is closer to the mast. But if your inner forestay is a solent stay that comes out from a sheave at the top of the mast just under the forestay (thus eliminating the need for runners), then having this stay attach to the deck further aft rather than parallel to the forestay greatly limits the type of sails you can use on this stay.

There's no reason why you can't attach a solent stay to the deck well aft of the forestay, but it means the only sails you can use on this stay (apart from the stormsail) are extremely high aspect which is less than ideal shape for cruising, and pretty much useless as you come off the wind.

A far better setup is to have the solent stay sort of parallel to the forestay and attach relatively closely aft of the forestay (say within 18"). This gives you much greater flexibility in the type of sail you can fly off this stay. The difficult part is installation of the chain plate for the solent stay deck fitting, unless you are lucky enough to have a bulkhead right up forward close to the forestay deck fitting.

I sail solo so i choose not to use a furler for this reason.. and i've used my storm sail 10+ times.... balance is supremely important in storm conditions

i like my helm to be neutral for dodging the worst waves etc..

My rig is twin spreader. The staysail that came with the yacht has a rope luff but its basically a downwind sail for use in moderate wind. I reckon if the sail is small enough, 50 square feet or so then a Spectra luff would be ok but would have to be hauled up quickly. The sail I made works like this but I have only played with it in moderate breezes. I would be more inclined to stay in the cockpit as I mentioned previously.